On the east coast of Suffolk, one of the most important projects in the UK’s energy system is progressing: the Sizewell C nuclear power station. This plant, with a projected capacity of 3.2 gigawatts, will supply low-carbon energy to more than six million British homes for at least six decades.
The low carbon energy supply plan
Following the official activation of its Development Consent Order in January 2024, the initiative has gathered pace. The British government, through the Treasury and with parliamentary support, announced in June a £14 billion investment. This intervention makes the State the largest shareholder in the project, with a 44.9% stake, thus ensuring British ownership of the infrastructure.
Key private partners have joined the state investment. EDF, with a 12.5% stake, together with La Caisse (20%), Centrica (15%) and Amber Infrastructure (7.6%), consolidate a mixed financing model that guarantees the viability of the project.
The plant will be built alongside Sizewell A and B, previous facilities that are part of the region’s energy legacy. Its design is based on the same EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) model used at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, allowing the reuse of proven solutions and improving operational efficiency from day one.
The EPR has been approved by the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation, meeting the highest industry standards. This technical validation supports an infrastructure that not only seeks to ensure a stable energy supply, but also to minimize its carbon footprint.
The government has emphasized that this type of project will protect the energy system from climate fluctuations, stabilize costs for consumers and position the country as a benchmark in clean technologies. At the same time, it is estimated that it will generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs during the construction and operation stages.
Source and photo: Sizewell C